Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) Awareness in Schools

Lourdes Salvador's Column

Lourdes Salvador is the founder of MCS America, a science writer, and a social advocate for the greater awareness of environmental contamination, human toxicology, and propagation of multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) as a disorder of organic biological origin induced by toxic environmental insults.

Switch over to an integrative pest management program which utilizes the least toxic pest control methods only when pests are spotted.

Provide adequate ventilation, an air filtration system, and clean air ducts monthly.

Use non-toxic, fragrance free, green cleaning products in place of traditional industrial cleaning agents when students and faculty are not in the building.

Check for moisture and remove mold and mildew.

Make the campus fragrance free and smoke free.

Offer healthier organic selections and special diet fulfillment in the cafeteria.

Allow students to take needed supplements and medications on schedule.

Minimize diesel exhaust from school buses and ensure that exhaust is not vented into the building or onto the playground.

Hold annual training seminars about caring for students with MCS for faculty, administrators, and the school nurse.

When building and remodeling, select the safest building materials with the least formaldehyde and other off-gassing agents. Place students with known MCS in older classrooms which have not been painted or remodeled in the last 3 years.